Reefer's Cafe Dbtc

[gonzapa]

Any interest in starting somthing like this in RC?

What is DBTC?
DBTC, stands for Don't Break The Chain, the idea is that it works like a Pay It Foward (PIF) type program, where someone donates a particular coral fragment with the idea that the person(s) who get said fragment will grow it out giving to others, who will in turn make fragment to others, etc.

I still don't get it. Why do we have this?
The idea behind it is to help spread coral species throughout the region. This will hopefully lessen the impact of taking corals from the oceans. As well as help spread diversity throughout the area. The idea was a way to push a non-greedy way of helping get corals out there to people. If you can get a coral fragment from a local farmer, that means less of an impact on the oceans. A great many of the "abundant" corals are not in any way mari/aquacultured since it's still profitable to hack them out of the seas.

Ok fine, so how do I get some free corals?
Now while you will get "free corals" this is not what this program is about, this is about sharing and be willing to share with others. While inevitably there will be a bit of a "greed" factor that seems to permeate, especially with more desirably corals, you have to understand the idea is that more will be offered, the way it works is that each coral grows exponentially (ideally), so while it may take some time the coral will be offered again. This program is NOT about stocking your empty tank with new corals for free, what it is about is helping grow a renewable resource and make it available for others for free.

Time? How much time do I need to wait?
It depends entirely on the amount of corals that are initially offered, and the type of corals. Some corals, specifically soft ones, grow quite readily so can be fragmented and dispersed quite rapidly, others like the small polyped stony corals grow relatively slowly, some grow a few inches a year! So it might take longer. Patience is the key, again this isn't to stock your tank full of corals so there should be no rush on getting one.

I don't have an Limited Edition or otherwise rare corals though.
Doesn't matter, this program is not about distributing rare corals, if that happens, all the better however what is needed is a sharing of all corals not just rare ones. You have those brown mushrooms, offer them up, just don't be sad if no one wants any.

Ok, I have corals I'd like to donate, who do I give them too? What do I do?
Alright, now we're talking! First you give them to whomever you wish they are your corals after all. Second you might want to list some rules, or follow some standard rules for who gets them. Third, start a new topic in this forum and type in all the gory details. Some advice 1) Give a brief description of the coral in the topic you make, Blue acropora or whatever 2) Give a bit more detailed of a description in the coral in the body of the message, if you don't know the exact species who cares, it's hard, it's a stick, call it an acropora, chances are you'll be correct, someone else will be most likely help you identify, besides most corals can't be accurately identified beyond the genus. Mention what lighting you have it under, how high in the tank it is, the flow conditions,fish load, or anything else that's out of the ordinary that you might think is relevant. 3) A picture is worth a thousand words! Get a camera, take a picture, don't worry if it's not the best, just give an idea of the overall color/shape of the coral. Post to any one the many online photo hosting sites (photobucket.com, imageshack.us) and then post via tags in the body of the message 4) Mention those rules, and what you would like seen with the coral as well.

What are these rules you mention??
The rules are simply a guideline, so overall call goes to whomever is offering since this is a voluntary program. However some standard rules that can easily be followed, or referred to "See FAQ for rules" are the following Must be BAR member. (you may open this up to what ever clubs you like, however this keeps it within the club, at least initially) Must be good with XXX (where this is the type of coral, this means you don't just finish cycling your tank and want to fill it up with corals) You agree to give frags to 3 more people before selling/trading of it (This is to keep the exponential growth thing going, also it helps safe guard against one person having an issue, tank crash, fell behind a rock, etc) You agree to pick up XXX (Again wherever you like, BAR meeting is useful, since it makes people go to meetings Smiley, basically it's to keep people from expecting you to deliver it) Pictures of progress ( it's nice to know how it's doing in other tanks under other conditions sometimes)

[tunicata]

This is a really cool thing to do here. It's possible we should req. a forum for it?
If many members start posting new threads it could be messy.

Here is a copy of what my rules would be:
So, this is kind of cool, I know a lot of reefers do this sort of thing in general, but its cool to have an 'official' program as well with guidelines

This is the picture of a colony provided by the person I bought them from a bit ago:


Pic of it in my tank:


Up for the DBTC, is a frag of green micromussa
Rules (modified):
1. You must respond in this thread.
2. Frags will go to members that are deserving*, with priority to members that have put up DBTC frags.
3. If I lose my colony, I get the next frag.
4. Frags from future colonies should always go into the DBTC program** and shouldn't be sold for profit.
5. Pick up in Newark NJ, or a Path line conveinent*** to me

* Deserving is to my definition, but includes your ability to care for the animal.
** Into the DBTC program, or any other similar program i.e. you passing it along to a friend free of charge.
*** Path/light rail lines that meet at WTC, 14th st, or Newark NJ, we will work out a good schedule (it's not even fragged yet!) together via pm/email.

---
Some folks even try and start lineages, to track where that coral has been. I'm sure Wingo will speak up on that section. I'd like to modify my rules to include that.

It seems easier to keep track of what's going on with the DBTC/that people are really passing it forward if you require them to post back on the board who they gave frags to and when (or have the reciever post, or post that a new frag of the original coral is now up for grabs) . That sounds neat, but also sounds like a way to police. I'd like it as a suggestion but once again, I'd hope people weren't that sheisty!

[gonzapa]

I will be willing to start it with a 1 inch frag or a green encrusting monty.

Rules.

1. You must offer a frag of something to RC. DBTC before you pick it up.
2. You must pick it up from me, I am generally only available after 4 on weekdays ,anytme on weekends and live in 08928.
3. If I lose the mother colony, you must offer me a frag.
4. I have final say on who gets the coral, some things I will generally consider (but don’t have to) in making my decision are the following; your experience and ability to keep the coral alive.
5. I can change the rules of this offering.
6. And finally you must offer all future frags of this coral as RC DBTC and require all to whom you give it, to do the same.


Here is the link , What is DBTC?

[Deepwater]

gonz , the links didnt work , i edit the post withthe link you provided in the shoutbox in your post above

Deep

[Deepwater]

Here is a link , that may encourage more ppl to do this --
The Coral Reef Crisis

BTW , im in , and i have a coral to pass down ! cool idea . hope we can get some good , honest ppl to pass these corals around.

[Banned]

Originally Posted by gonzapa

What are these rules you mention??
The rules are simply a guideline, so overall call goes to whomever is offering since this is a voluntary program. However some standard rules that can easily be followed, or referred to "See FAQ for rules" are the following Must be BAR member. (you may open this up to what ever clubs you like, however this keeps it within the club, at least initially) Must be good with XXX (where this is the type of coral, this means you don't just finish cycling your tank and want to fill it up with corals) You agree to give frags to 3 more people before selling/trading of it (This is to keep the exponential growth thing going, also it helps safe guard against one person having an issue, tank crash, fell behind a rock, etc) You agree to pick up XXX (Again wherever you like, BAR meeting is useful, since it makes people go to meetings Smiley, basically it's to keep people from expecting you to deliver it) Pictures of progress ( it's nice to know how it's doing in other tanks under other conditions sometimes)

Sorry, can't do it. I'm not a BAR member. Where did you copy this from?

[SulfurAcid]

What is the BAR. does this mean i will not be able to do it in Miami. or maybe...we could strat it up here.

[rbtwo4]

Copyright infringement???

[wobbegong]

Im offering a shot of Jack Daniels

[gonzapa]

Alright. BAR is the San Francisco Bay Area Reef Club. .. so is there any interest in starting the same at RC?

[GrkNyer]

Originally Posted by gonzapa

Alright. BAR is the San Francisco Bay Area Reef Club. .. so is there any interest in starting the same at RC?

There is an article about this in Reef Hobbyist Magazine. This is the free magazine that was at Ronens swap. You can view it here Welcome to Reef Hobbyist Magazine

[EliteTwit]

I would gladly grow something out to hand over to someone else later on. If I had something to give i'd donate it to the cause as well. give me a few and I'll be able to.

[Deepwater]

Im down as stated before ,

[Banned]

I'll play.

[PnoyReefeR]

I wouldn't use RC DBTC as people might think its Reef Central... I say RCafe DBTC... Just playing safe as some people when they hear RC the first thing that comes to their mind is Reef Central

[Deepwater]

Originally Posted by PnoyReefeR

I wouldn't use RC DBTC as people might think its Reef Central... I say RCafe DBTC... Just playing safe as some people when they hear RC the first thing that comes to their mind is Reef Central

..

[Wingo]

I have already started DBTC elsewhere.

When a new sub forum is up I'll be there. I have elkhorn and orange cap in the arsenals to start with.

Probably when time is right, we will do a periodic trade with BAR too with consolidated shipping.

[PnoyReefeR]

SomebOdY watchinG thiS thReaD :

[Deepwater]

Originally Posted by Wingo

I have already started DBTC elsewhere.

When a new sub forum is up I'll be there. I have elkhorn and orange cap in the arsenals to start with.

Probably when time is right, we will do a periodic trade with BAR too with consolidated shipping.

Forum done

I moved this thread to the dbtc forum .

[Mr. Ugly]

Very nice!

Mr. Ugly/Norman
Bay Area Reefers